"Worst Decision Ever" 100/1 Mad Mike Has Win Decision Reversed at Chepstow, Sponsored by Betting.bet

While a relatively low-key event, our team and the hundreds of racegoers in attendance were treated to an explosive day of racing, especially in the 13.30!

As you may have seen on our social media pages, on Wednesday 24th January the betting.bet team made their way to Chepstow Racecourse, sponsoring the day's meeting at the Monmouthshire course. While a relatively low-key event, our team and the hundreds of racegoers in attendance were treated to an explosive day of racing, especially in the 13.30!

Mad Mike, trained by Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, finished ahead of Rebecca Curtis's House of Stories by a nose. However, after a Steward's Enquiry, the result was reversed, seeing House of Stories confirmed as race winner. The reason for the enquiry was due to interference at the final hurdle. Both horses jumped together. But Mad Mike blundered. As jockey Sean Houlihan attempted to remain in the saddle, he was deemed to have crossed into the path of House of Stores.

Curtis said: "I was delighted to get it as we've been having so many seconds lately. I wasn't convinced we'd get it watching it live, but my mind changed after seeing the replay. He was badly interfered with and it might have stayed the same had he been beaten a neck, but he was only done by a nose.

"Ben [Jones, jockey of House of Stories] was quite confident we'd get it in the end, and Matt Chapman [Sky Sports Racing presenter] was convinced it would be overturned."

While we are thrilled for Curtis and her team, many felt that the Stewards' Enquiry was unnecessary, including a large community of punters.

The Stewards' report - which was posted online, read:

"An enquiry was held to consider the placings in this race after interference after jumping the final hurdle when the winner, Mad Mike, ridden by Sean Houlihan interfered with House Of Stories, placed second, ridden by Ben Jones.

"The stewards considered that the interference had improved Mad Mike’s placing as having made a mistake he shifted sharply left-handed on landing, taking House Of Stories off its line by 1½ hurdle panels, causing that runner to lose momentum at a time when he was making significant and continual inroads.

Many punters, most of whom had backed Mad Mike, took to X (previously Twitter) to air their thoughts:

One user wrote: "One of the worst decisions ever? If you don't jump a hurdle cleanly you lose the race."

Another punter said: "Christ, not sure he can do much differently there. When you consider some that don’t get reversed…"

One comment read: "No way that stopped House of Stories winning, terrible decision."

A fellow punter commented: "How on earth has that been reversed?"

Another person was of the opinion the decision was: "Absolutely disgraceful."

What are your thoughts? Was the verdict of Stewards' Enquiry correct?